Nurse apologizes for leaving car-pedestrian crash scene

Hit and Run Driver SentencedDenise Dippoliti of Chittenango was sentenced by Onondaga County Court Judge Anthony Aloi to five years probation and fined $1,000 in connection to the hit and run accident when she struck Ryan Hujar, 13, of Cicero last summer. Video by John Berry / The Post-Standard

Syracuse, NY - A nursing official from St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center apologized in court today for leaving the scene of a car-pedestrian crash that seriously injured a Cicero teenager last summer.

Denise Deppoliti said she was "horrified" to learn about the injuries to Ryan Hujar. But she maintained she never knew she had struck a person and never would have driven away from the scene if she had realized that.

Deppoliti was sentenced today by County Judge Anthony Aloi to five years' probation and fined $1,000 for her conduct.

The judge said the case should serve as a warning to all motorists about the need to stop and investigate if you hit anything while driving.

Authorities said Hujar, 13, was crossing Lakeshore Road in front of his home with his 7-year-old sister when he was struck by Deppoliti's passing car about 10 p.m. Aug. 5.

Deppoliti's lawyer contacted police the following day and made arrangements for Deppoliti to surrender Aug. 7.

Deppoliti, 63, of 602 Valley Drive East, Chittenango, pleaded guilty May 11 to a felony charge of leaving the scene of an incident without reporting it. She could have faced up to four years in state prison, but the plea deal called for a probationary sentence which Aloi imposed today.

Hujar, his sister and their parents were all in court today for Deppoliti's sentencing. Assistant District Attorney Frank Pelosi read to Aloi a letter from the parents in which they questioned how Deppoliti could have just rushed home from the crash scene without stopping.

As Deppoliti drove home with a hole in her windshield and glass shattered on the front seat of her car, Hujar was left badly injured along the side of the road with his little sister screaming for help, the parents noted.

John Berry / The Post-StandardDenise Dippoliti of Chittenango stands with her lawyer, Michael Vavinese, as she is sentenced by Onondaga County Court Judge Anthony Aloi to five years probation and fined $1,000 in connection to the hit and run accident when she struck Ryan Hujar, 13, of Cicero last summer.

The parents also indicated they were aware of the fact Deppoliti had numerous people writing to the court about her "exemplary character." But they questioned that character if a trained nurse was able to just drive away from the crash scene as she did.

Deppoliti, a registered nurse with a Ph.D., is director of clinical services, focusing on education and research, at St. Joseph's.

The Hujars wrote that they hope she struggles with her conscience over what she did for a long time to come.

Pelosi said the victim's parents had wanted Deppoliti to accept responsibility for her conduct. They also wanted her co-workers and friends to recognize what she did, he said.

Pelosi then questioned the nature of Deppoliti's character himself. He noted that in the pre-sentence report prepared by the probation department, Deppoliti admitted she had been on her way home from a local restaurant but refused to answer any questions about whether she had been drinking alcohol before the hit-run crash.

Defense lawyer Michael Vavonese said there was never any suggestion that Deppoliti was in any way impaired or driving recklessly at the time of the incident. He also said she had been a nurse for 41 years with a solid reputation for helping people.

She never knew she had struck the victim with her car when she continued driving away from the scene, Vavonese said.

Vavonese said Deppoliti refused to answer some of the probation department's questions for the pre-sentence report because there is a civil lawsuit pending against her in connection with the crash and the injuries suffered by Hujar.

Outside court, Vavonese said Deppoliti still has her job at St. Joseph's. He said he did not know if the felony conviction would have any impact on her professional license. But he said he hoped any officials reviewing the matter would "see this for what it is and that is a mistake."